IMHO, training should tightly revolve around that concept. As such, when I train, I train to shoot and move. When I move, I am moving in such a way so as to increase the distance between me and my enemy/target and to complicate his ability to effectively maneuver against me. I am either moving backwards or off to the flank. Ideally, I am moving closer to cover and farther from the enemy in a very rapid manner and I am drawing and shooting while I do this.
If someone gets on top of you with a knife before you have drawn your weapon, you're getting stabbed.
In a perfect world.
‘The point of having a gun is to avoid physical contact with your enemy. ‘
LOL. There is a little difference between golf and a real life. You can’t carry a tool for every situation all the time, and your possible opponent isn’t static as well, so it is not up to you only on would you avoid physical contact or not.
Handgun is still one of the most effective tools to hurt someone, regardless the fact are you in physical contact or not.
I think there is one major rule of close quarters shooting: muzzle awareness. You should be careful to keep your body parts out of the way between your handgun and a bad guy no matter what.